Kerf-cutting machine



Jan., l0, 1939. W w. SLOANE KERF-CUTTING MACHINE Original Filed June 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Shee l Qm. MQS. QN

jan. l0, 1939.

W. w. sLoANE KERF-CUTTNG MACHINE Original Filed June 5, 1956 bh NM mmf m @i s @mw www Jan. l0, W39. w. w. sLoANE MRF-CUTTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Shee 5 Original Filed June 5, 1936 Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE Goodman Manufacturing Company,

Chicago,

Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application June 5, 1936, Serial No.

83,733. Divided and this application January v 11, 1937,1Serial No. 119,925

14 Claims.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a novel form of power driven means for adjustably moving the cutter bar toward and from a supporting frame, which adjusting means also equalizes the loads between the supporting frame and cutter bar and serves to hold the cutter bar in substantially parallel relation with respect to its supporting frame during adjustment and cutting.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds.

This application is a division of a prior application Serial No. 83,733 filed June 5, 1936, now Patent No. 2,118,529, granted May24, 1938.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the forward portion of a mining machine constructed in accordance with my invention, with parts of the gear covers broken away and certain other parts shown in horizontal section in order to illustrate certain details of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the forward portion of the machine shown in Figure 1 drawn to an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a detail View of the opposite side of the forward portion of the machine than is shown in Figure 2 and showing certain parts broken away and in longitudinal section which are not shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail partial fragmentary transverse sectional View showing certain details of the cutter bar adjusting mechanism;

Figure 5 is a detail partial fragmentary transverse sectional view showing` certain other details of the cutter bar adjusting mechanism not shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail partial fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along lines 6--6 of Figure 3, showing certain details of the cutter bar adjusting mechanism ,not shown in Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line l-T of Figure l;

Figures 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views in side elevation, showing the cutter bar positioned for cutting horizontal kerfs at various elevations with respect to the ground; and

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view in plan showing the cutter bar positioned for cutting a shearing kerf.

In the drawings the embodiment of my invention illustrated includes a track mounted truck I0 having a cutting element II mounted thereon in a pair of parallel-spaced guides I2, I2 for vertical adjustment with respect thereto.

The cutting element II includes generally a motor I3 having truck driving mechanism disposed rearwardly thercof and having cutting mechanism disposed forwardly thereof. Said cutting mechanism includes a projecting cutter bar I6 supported by a support frame I5 secured to and projecting from the forward end of said motor.

The cutting mechanism support frame I5 has a projecting forward end I'I, a portion of which end depends from said truck and forms a longitudinal pivotal bearing `support for a turning frame I8 which projects forwardly from said forward end. Said turning frame has a support frame I9 mounted for rectilinear movement with respect thereto in a plurality of parallel planes in a manner which will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds.

A cutter frame 20, which forms a support member for the cutter bar I6, is pivotally mounted in the support frame I9 for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the machine. Said cutter bar has a cutter chain 2| movable thereabout in a closed orbital path, which meshes with a sprocket 22 mounted on a sleeve 23 journaled in said cutter frame coaxial with the pivotal axis thereof in suitable ball bearings. (See Figure 2.)

The cutter chain 2I is driven from the forward end of the motor I3 through a suitable extensible drive connection which includes a splined shaft 24 slidably engaging an internally splined bore of the sleeve 23, and an internally splined hub 25 of a bevel gear 26. Said bevel gear is driven from a bevel pinion 2'I on the forward end of a longitudinally extending shaft 28. Said shaft is driven from a longitudinally extending shaft 29 coaxial with the axis of the turning frame I 8, by means of a gear train, generally indi-` cated by reference character 39. The drive from the motor to said last-mentioned shaft includes a spur gear 3| on a shaft 32 aligned with the shaft 29, which meshes with a pinion 33 on the forward end of the shaft for the motor I3. Clutch mechanism, generaly indicated by reference character 34, is providedfor selectively connecting said shafts together. Said clutch mechanism is not herein described in detail since it is no portion of my present invention.

The turning frame I8 is mounted on the frame i5 for movement about a longitudinally extending axis by means of a rearwardly disposed annularly shouldered portion 55 formed integral with said turning frame. Said annular shouldered portion is journaled within a cylindrical inner periphery of the forward end I1 of the cutting mechanism support frame I5. The rear end of said annular shouldered portion abuts an annular bearing member 56, and a forward shouldered portion thereof is journaled in a shouldered bearing member 51. An annular ring 58 is secured to the forward end of the portion I1 and abuts the shouldered bearing 51 for retaining said bearing and the frame I5 in position.

A spur ring gear 59 is mounted on the rear end of the annular shouldered portion 55 and abuts the annular bearing 5B. Said ring gear is meshed with a spur pinion 60 (see Figure 4), which pinion is on the forward end of a longitudinally extending shaft 6|. Said shaft is journaled in the cutting mechanism support frame I5 in a suitable manner and is driven from a transversely extending shaft 53 by means of a suitable worm and worm gear drive, generally indicated by reference character 65. Said worm and worm gear are of the self-locking type arranged to hold the turning frame I8 in the desired position until positively locked, in a manner which is no part of my present invention so is not herein shown or described. A spur gear 65 is keyed on the inner end of the shaft 63 and is adapted to be selectively driven from the motor I3 by means of a novel arrangement of gearing which will not herein be described since it is no portion of my present invention.

Referring now particularly to the mechanism for moving the support frame |9 toward or from the turning frame I8 in parallel relation with respect thereto and equalizing the loads between said frames, said support frame is provided with a pair of parallel-spaced guides 16, 16 extending from the rearward end thereof. Said guides register for engagement with parallel-spaced guides 11, 11 extending from the turning frame I8 immediately forwardly of the annular shouldered portion 55. Said adjusting mechanism includes a novel parallel link arrangement disposed forwardly of the guides 11, 11 and having connection with opposite sides of the forward and rearward portions of the support frame I9. A pair of bell crank members 18, 18 are pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the forward end of the turning frame I8 on a transversely extending shaft 19. Another pair of bell crank members 80, are mounted adjacent the rearward end of said turning frame on the outer sides thereof and forwardly of the guides 11, 11 on aligned oppositely extending transversely disposed stud shafts 8|, 8|. The bell crank members 18, 13 and 80, 30 are connected together to operate as a unit by means of parallel links 82, 82V pivotally connected to lever arms 89, 85 and 85, 85 respectively of said bell crank members. Thus, all of said bell crank members may rock together as a unit in parallel relation with respect to each other upon rocking movement of the shaft 19.

A second lever arm 81 of each bell crank member 18 is pivotally connected to the forward end of the supporting frame I9 by means of a link 88 extending downwardly therefrom. In a like manner, a second lever arm 9| of each bell crank member 80 is pivotally connected with a rearward portion of the supporting frame I9 by means of a link 92 which depends from said lever arm in parallel relation with respect to the link 88.

The transversely extending shaft 'I9 is rocked to move the supporting frame I9 in parallel relation with respect to the turning frame I8 by means of a crank arm 93 secured to said shaft and herein shown as extending upwardly and angularly rearwardly therefrom, when the parts are in the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Said crank arm has a pair of parallel-spaced rearwardly extending links 95, 95 pivotally connected to opposite sides thereof on the ends of a pin 94. The rearward ends of said links are pivotally connected to stud shafts or pivotal pins 96, 96 extending outwardly from opposite sides of a nut 91. Said nut is threaded on a threaded shaft 98 which is journaled at its rearward end in a guide frame 99 on suitable ball bearings |00, |05. Said shaft extends forwardly along and between the upper and lower Sides of a guide IOI formed in said guide frame, and said nut is guided for movement along said guide. (See Figures 1, 3 and 6.) Said guide frame is mounted on and extends along the turning frame E8 in such a manner that the guide IiII is spaced above the bottom of said frame.

Suitable means are provided on the threaded shaft 98 for engaging and holding the nut 91 from movement at the extreme ends of its path of travel along said shaft which as herein shown comprise a stop |05 mounted adjacent the forward end of the front ball bearing |00, and a stop |06 at the forward end of said shaft. Said stops are adapted to engage suitable jaws |08, |08 extending forwardly and rearwardly from the nut 91 and thus form a means for locking the shaft 98 from rotatable movement.

A spur gear |03 is secured to the rearward end of the threaded shaft 98 for driving said shaft. Said spur gear is meshed with a spur gear |09 freely mounted on the forward end of a longitudinally extending shaft I I0. Said last-mentioned shaft is driven by a spur gear III on the rearward end thereof, which is selectively connectible with the forward end of the motor I3, so that it may be driven therefrom in reverse directions without reversal of said motor independently of movement of the other parts of the machine. A suitable slip clutch |I3 of the pin type, loaded by means of a spring H4 in a usual manner is provided to connect the gear |09 with the shaft |I0. Said clutch is of a construction well known to those skilled in the art and is arranged to slip upon a predetermined load on the shaft IIO or when the nut 91 engages either of the stops |05 or |06, to prevent breakage of the parts, and is not herein described in detail since it is no portion of my present invention.

The gear III and threaded shaft 98 are selectively driven from the forward end of the motor I3, in reverse directions without reversal of said motor, by means of a transversely extending shaft |34 which is journaled in the frame I5. A pair of oppositely disposed bevel gears |35, |35 freely mounted on said shaft are meshed with a bevel gear |36 on the forward end of a longitudinal shaft |31. Said longitudinal shaft is journaled in the cutting mechanism support frame I5 and is driven from a spur gear |39 which is meshed with the motor pinion 33.

Suitable friction clutches |43, |43, of a usual construction are provided for connecting either ofthe bevel gears |35, |35 with the shaft |34 for reversely driving said shaft. Said clutches are shifted to be `engaged with said associated bevel gears by means of a clutch `collar |44 which is shifted along said shaft by means `of a suitable system of levers in a manner not herein shown or described since it is no part of my present invention.

A worm |89 is mounted on the transversely extending shaft |34 and meshes with a worm gear |8l keyed on a longitudinally extending sleeve |82 journaled in the frame I5. (See Figure 6.) Said sleeve extends within a planetary gear reduction mechanism |83, and, as herein shown, has a pinion I cut integral therewith which serves as a sun gear and drive means for said planetary. Said planetary is of a construction which is clearly shown and described'i'n my parent application of which this is a division so will not herein be described in detail. The sun gear |84 meshes with planetary pinions |85, |85 mounted in a cage |81. Said planetary pinions mesh with an internal gear |88. Planetary pinions |99, |89 are disposed coaxial with and are rotatable with the planetary pinions |95, and mesh with an internal gear |99 which is secured to a shaft |93. The cage |91 is held from rotation by means of a friction band to permit said shaft to be driven at a relatively high rate of speed through a geared reduction which includes the sun gear |84, planetary pinions |85, |85, planetary pinions |89, |89 and internal gear |99. When it is desired to drive the shaft |93 at a low rate of speed, the friction band |95 is released from the cage |81 and a friction band H96 is provided, which holds the internal gear |98 from rotation. Thus the shaft |93 and internal gear |99 will be driven through the sun gear i9@ and planetary pinions |85, |85 and |89, |39, moving in an orbital path about the internal gear |88,

A spur gear |99 is keyed on the outer end of the shaft |93 and meshes with and drives an idler gear 299. The faces of the teeth of said idler gear are relatively long and said idler gear is adapted to mesh with a spur gear 29| feathered on a sleeve 292 for movement therealong. Said sleeve is uiournaled on the longitudinally extending shaft 2.9 which is disposed coaxial with the turning axis of the turning frame I8. A spur gear 29d is keyed on the hub of the spur gear 29| and is adapted to mesh with either the spur gear ill, for moving the cutter bar toward or from the turning frame i8, or a spur pinion |33, for swinging the cutter bar at either a frictionally controlled high positioning or low feeding Speed.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a power drive has been provided for selectively driving the threaded shaft 99 in reverse directions without reversal of the motor |3 in a simplified manner independently of the other operations of the machine; that said shaft serves to adjustably move the cutter bar toward or from the turning frame i3 by means of a simplified arrangement of links and levers which serve to equalize the loads between the forward and rearward ends of the support frame i9 and to prevent binding between the guides i6, 'I9 and 11, and that said mechanism is confined substantially within the limits of the turning frame I8 when the parts are in a retracted position.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and. scope of my invention. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specific construction illustrated herein, excepting as specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim `as my invention:

1. In a mining machine, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a projecting cutter bar supported for movement towards and from said frame, and means for supporting said cutter bar and moving it 'towards and from said frame comprising a parallel link connection between said frame and cutter bar and power driven means for moving said links in parallel relation with respect to each other including a rocking member, an extensible member connected with said rocking member for rocking said rocking member, and an operative connection between said rocking member and said parallel link connection.

2. In a mining machine, a base, a frame eX- tending forwardly therefrom, a pair of parallel spaced guides projecting from said frame, a projecting cutter bar guided for movement towards and from said frame in said guides, and power operated means for supporting said cutter bar f and'moving it towards and from said frame comprising a parallel link connection between said frame and cutter bar disposed forwardly of said guides, and power-driven means for moving said links in parallel relation with respect to each y. l other including an extensible drive member, and

an operative connection between said member and said parallel links,

3. In a mining machine, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a projecting cutter bar supported for movement towards and from said frame, and means for supporting said A cutter bar and moving it towards and from said frame comprising a parallel link connection between said frame and cutter bar including a pair oi spaced parallel links connected to each side of said frame, and power driven `means for moving said links in parallel relation with respect to each other comprising a threaded shaft rotatably driven by power, a nut thereon and movable therealong, and an operative connection from said nut to said links.

4. In a mining machine, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a projecting cutter bar supported for movement towards and from said frame, and means for supporting said cutter bar and moving it towards and from said frame comprising a parallel link connection between said frame and cutter bar including a pair of spaced parallel links connected to each side of said frame, and power driven means for moving said links in parallel relation with respect to each other comprising a threaded shaft rotatably driven by power, a nut thereon and movable therealong, and an operative connection from said nut to said links including a transverse torsion shaft, a crank arm on said shaft, a connection from said. nut to said crank arm for pivoting said shaft upon translational movement of said nut, and an operative connection from said shaft to said links.

5. In a mining machine, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a projecting cutter bar supported for movement towards and from said frame, and power-driven means for moving said cutter bar towards or from said frame comprising a threaded shaft rotatably driven by power, a nut thereon and movable therealong, a transverse torsion shaft, a crank arm on said shaft, a connection from said nut to said Vcrank arm for pivoting said shaft upon translational movement of said nut, a pair of bell crank members on opposite ends of said shaft, a linkage connection between o-ne lever arm of each of said bell crank members and said cutter bar, another pair of bell crank members spaced rearwardly of said first-mentioned bell crank members and movable in parallel relation with respect thereto, a linkage connection between the other lever arms of said first-mentioned bell crank members and said secondmentioned bell crank members, and a. linkage connection between the other lever arms of said second-mentioned bell crank members and said cutter bar. 6. In a mining machine, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame having a cutter bar projecting therefrom, a pair of parallel-spaced guides engaging the rearward end of said cutter frame, and a power driven equalizing connection between said frames for moving said frames in parallel relation with respect to each other ,and adapted to prevent binding between said guides and cutter frame during such movement, said equalizing connection being disposed forwardly of said guides for moving said cutter frame towards and from said support frame and comprising a torsion shaft disposed transversely of said frame and pivotally moved by power, and a parallel link connection from said torsion shaft to said cutter frame.

7. In a mining machine, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame having a cutter bar projecting therefrom, a pair of parallel-spaced guides engaging the rearward end of said cutter frame, and a power driven equalizing connection between said frames for moving said frames in` parallel relation with respect to each other and adapted to prevent binding between said guides and cutter frame during such movement, said equalizing connection being disposed forwardly of said guides and comprising a torsion shaft disposed transversely of said frame and pivotally moved by power, and a parallel link connection from said torsion shaft to said cutter frame including a pair of bell crank members disposed adjacent the forward end of said cutter frame, another pair of bell crank members spaced rearwardly therefrom, a link connecting each pair of said bell crank members together to operate as a unit, and links connecting the other lever arms of said bell crank members with said cutter frame.

8. In a mining machine, a base, a frame eX- tending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame having a cutter bar projecting therefrom, a pair of parallel-spaced guides engaging the rearward end cf said cutter frame, and a power driven` equalizing connection between said frames fo-r moving said cutter frame towards and from said support frame adapted to prevent binding between said guides and cutter frame during such movement, and comprising a torsion shaft disposed transversely of said frame adjacent the forward end thereof, rocking members on opposite ends of said shaft and rocked thereby, another pair of rocking members disposed adjacent to but forwardly of said guides, a connection between said rst and second-mentioned rocking members and a parallel link connection between said rocking members and said cutter frame whereby pivotal movement of said shaft will move said cutter frame towards or from said first-mentioned frame in parallel relation with respect thereto.

9. In a mining machine, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame having a cutter bar projecting therefrom, a pair of parallel-spaced guides engaging the rearward end of said cutter frame, and a power driven equalizing connection between said frames for moving said cutter frame towards and from said support frame and adapted to prevent binding between said guides and cutter frame during such movement, said equalizing connection comprising a torsion shaft disposed transversely of said frame adjacent the forward end thereof, rocking members on opposite ends of said shaft and rocked thereby, another pair of rocking members disposed adjacent to but forwardly of said guides, a connection between said first and second-mentioned rocking members, a connection between said rocking members and said cutter frame, and power-driven means for pivotally moving said torsion shaft comprising a threaded shaft rotatably driven by power, a nut on said threaded shaft, and a connection from said nut to said torsion shaft.

10. In a mining machine, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame having a cutter bar projecting therefrom, a pair of parallel-spaced guides engaging the rearward end of said cutter frame, and a power driven equalizing connection between said frames for moving said cutter frame towards and from said support frame and adapted to prevent binding between said guides during such movement, and comprising a torsion shaft disposed transversely of said frame adjacent the forward end thereof, rocking members on opposite ends of said shaft and rocked thereby, another pair of rocking members disposed adjacent to but forwardly of said guides, a connection between said first and second-mentioned rocking members, a connection between said rocking members and said cutter frame, and power driven means for pivotally moving said torsion shaft comprising a nut movable longitudinally of the machine, an operative connection between said nut and torsion shaft and a threaded shaft rotatably driven by power, extending longitudinally of said frame and threaded within said nut.

11. In a mining machine, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame having a cutter bar projecting therefrom, a pair of parallel-spaced guides engaging the rearward end of said cutter frame, and a power driven equalizing connection between said frames for moving said cutter frame towards and fromsaid support frame and adaptedto prevent binding between said guides during such movement, and comprising a torsion shaft disposed transversely of said frame adjacent the forward end thereof, rocking members on opposite ends of said shaft and rocked thereby, another pair of rocking members disposed adjacent to but forwardly of said guides, a connection between said first and-sec ond-mentioned rocking members, a connection between said rocking members and said cutter frame, and power driven means for pivotally moving -said torsion shaft comprising a guide eX- tending longitudinally of said frame, a nut guided for movement along said guide, an operative connection betwen said nut and torsion shaft, and a threaded shaft rotatably driven by power, ex-

tending along said guide and having said nut threaded thereon.

12. In a mining machine, a base, a frame eX- tending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame having a cutter bar projecting therefrom, a pair of parallel-spaced guides engaging the rearward Lil) end of said cutter frame, and a power driven equalizing connection between said frames for moving said cutter frame towards and from said support frame and adapted to prevent binding between said guides during such movement, and comprising a torsion shaft disposed transversely of said frame adjacent the forward end thereof, rocking members on opposite ends of said shaft and rocked thereby, another pair of rocking members disposed adjacent to but forwardly of said guides, a connection between said iirst and second-mentioned rocking members, a connection betwen said rocking members and said cutter frame, and power driven means for pivotally moving said torsion shaft comprising a guide extending longitudinally of said frame, a nut guided for movement along said guide, an operative connection between said nut and torsion shaft, and a threaded shaft journaled at one end of its ends and having the free portion thereof extending along said guide and having said nut threaded thereon.

13. In a mining machine, a base, a frame, a projecting cutter bar, and means for supporting said cutter bar and moving it towards and from said frame including a pair of parallel links arranged on each side of said frame and having connections with said frame and cutter bar, a rocking member, an` operative connection between said rocking member and each pair of parallel links, and a member extensibly movable along said frame for rocking said rocking member and holding it from rocking movement.

14. In a mining machine, a base, a frame, a projecting cutter bar, and means for supporting said cutter bar and moving it towards and from said frame including a pair of parallel links arranged on each side of said frame and having connection with said frame and cutter bar, a rocking member, an operative connection betwen said rocking member and each pair of parallel links, means for rocking said rocking member and holding it from rocking movement including a member guided for extensible movement along said frame and power driven means for extensibly moving said member along said frame.

WILLIAM W. SLOANE. 

